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Looking Back to Look Forward
"Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be." (Job 8:7)
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As we forge ahead in shaping the future of Living Stones and heed the divine calling to serve, we reflect on the past year to acknowledge the remarkable journey thus far. The year 2023 ushered in a whirlwind of growth and transformation. This time last year, we just started serving at Brentwood Presbyterian Church, an opportunity graciously opened by God. Since then, each month has seen us warmly welcoming new neighbors, while the church itself has provided unwavering support for our ministry that is invaluable.
It is crucial to acknowledge God's ongoing call for us to evolve and serve. In doing so, we must reflect not only on the humble origins of Living Stones, but also the transformation and progress witness over the past year. A calling from God, which started with a group of seven people serving meals to about 40 people, has grown into a beautiful ministry with over 150 volunteers serving over 300 neighbors at three different locations. Amidst numerous reasons for gratitude and accomplishments worth celebrating, here are a few notable highlights from the past year.
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FOOD RESCUED AND SERVED
Our meal ministry alone achieves three significant goals simultaneously: rescuing food that would otherwise contribute to the staggering 119 billion pounds of food waste generated in our country, redirecting this rescued food to provide nourishing meals for those facing food insecurity, and fostering a sense of community and fellowship around each shared meal.
Since the end of May of 2023, we've implemented a practice of weighing the food we are rescuing and stocking in our freezers. Initially, we recorded 890 pounds of food, and from June 1st through the year's end, we rescued over 8,200 pounds of food!
Our Sunday meal ministry remains at the core of our identity and mission, and we are grateful for the opportunity to have served over 2,600 meals in 2023. This marks a significant increase from 1,780 meals served in 2022 (a 46% increase) and 1,450 meals served in 2021 (a 79% increase). It is around these meals that some of our most vital work unfolds. We are actively nurturing relationships with and among out neighbors, for whom this gathering often represents their sole opportunity for social interaction.
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CLOTHING CLOSET
In April of 2022, we launched our clothing closet initiative, driven by the dedication and compassion of our volunteers who go above and beyond to ensure that our neighbors feel welcomed and cherished. Our expansive clothing closet, meticulously overseen by a volunteer with expertise in high-end fashion design, is a testament to care and quality. Recently, the Mayor of Dormont, upon visiting us, likened our setup to a clothing boutique, acknowledging the attention to detail and quality of our offerings. Over the last year, we extended this service to 1,151 neighbors, providing them with essential clothing items totaling over 4,450 articles, which included blankets, scarves, and shoes. This marked a significant increase from the previous year, where 432 neighbors received 2,130 articles of clothing.
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MY MONDAY THING!
This program, which offers various activities such as crafts, haircuts, and access to a curated clothing closet, has emerged as a cornerstone of support for our neighbors. This past year, our outreach efforts saw a significant uptick as we warmly welcomed 847 neighbors, nearly doubling participation from the previous year.
At My Monday Thing!, we also serve both breakfast and lunch and if we add that to our Sunday meals count, we actually served a total of 3,447 meals in 2023. Additionally, we're proud to have at least five generous hairstylists who volunteer their time and talents, with three or four stylists typically rotating hours each month, to provide free hair washings and haircuts. Last year, 338 neighbors received haircuts, compared to 308 in 2022. While we may not observe a substantial increase in haircuts next year due to the limited capacity of each stylist, we are thrilled to report tremendous growth in our crafts activities. In 2022, 172 neighbors participated, whereas in 2023, over 325 neighbors engaged in hands-on craft activities, representing nearly an 90% increase in participation.
Furthermore, at all of our dinners and My Monday Thing!, our neighbors have direct access to our Community Health Worker, who is also a registered nurse. She continues to offer invaluable support by providing medical guidance, screenings, vaccinations, and referrals to additional resources beyond our scope, including housing, safety, and financial assistance. Over the last year, she saw her caseload increase by 75%. Particularly, medical needs witnessed a significant surge, skyrocketing from 30% of her cases in 2022 to 60% in 2023.
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FUNDRAISING
Despite our efforts to rescue food whenever possible, running our ministry still incurs significant expenses. The cost of single-use plasticware, plates, to-go containers, bags, Sternos, aluminum serving pans, fresh foods like salads and fruit, dressings, sauces, gravies, craft supplies, shampoos, and other day-to-day necessities continues to rise. In 2023, we celebrated the third year of our annual fundraiser, aimed at generating funds to sustain our mission. Last year our fundraiser, renamed The Amazing Race Against Hunger, proved to be an immense success. Taking place on September 16th, the event yielded an extraordinary $62,400 in net proceeds, a 21% increase from our fundraiser in 2022. In addtion to our annual fundraiser, our end-of-year giving campaign generated $14,000 in donations, demonstrating the generosity of our supporters. Additionally, our participation in Give Big Pittsburgh, a part of the Giving Tuesday campaign, resulted in $3,290 in contributions.
The accomplishments of Living Stones are made possible by the dedication of numerous volunteers and organizations who share a commitment not only to our cause but also to our neighbors. It is through the contributions of time, talents, space, and donations from our supporters that our mission is empowered. We attribute all glory to God, who has guided us by always placing the right individuals in our path. As we continue into another year of this ministry, we remain steadfast in prayer, attentively listening to God's guidance as He continues to call us to serve. With great joy, we reflect on the remarkable growth we've witnessed over the past year. Moving forward with faith and hope, we are determined to explore opportunities to further strengthen and grow Living Stones in 2024!
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Come to the Table
Second Sunday of every month
Brentwood Presbyterian Church
3725 Brownsville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15227
Third Sunday of every month
North Way Christian Community Church
Corner of Espy Ave. & Potomac Ave.
Dormont, PA 15216
Across from Potomac Avenue T stop
Last Sunday of every month
Fairhaven United Methodist Church
2415 Saw Mill Run Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15234
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To support the work we do, simply scan a code below or make a check payable to
Living Stones and mail it to
Living Stones, PO Box 13077, Pittsburgh, PA 15243
Thank you!
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Living Stones fosters the cultivation of relationships with neighbors who join us for meals. As relationships develop and deepen, Living Stones volunteers come alongside those individuals and families to assist them in navigating the challenges in their lives and encourage them to find hope in Christ as they learn to trust Him.
"Won't you be my neighbor?"
Fred Rogers
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